Monday, March 29, 2010

Today: Cleaning house! Then there was another Pysanky egg to be made (this is my third, second following a traditional pattern) and some meat balls are baking in the oven, destined first for the freezer, second for a crock pot and third for the Pascha pic nic!

This evening there will be Bridegroom Matins. Time turns upside down during Holy Week, and versperal liturgies are in the morning and matins services are held in the evening. We remember the ten virgins with the oil lamps and we are admonished to be among those who are prepared for the Bridegroom's coming.

We sing:

Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight, and blessed is that servant whom He shall find watching, and again, unworthy is the servant whom He shall find heedless. Beware, therefore, O my soul, do not be weighed down with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and lest you be shut out of the Kingdom. But rouse yourself crying: Holy, Holy, Holy, art Thou, O our God, Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.

The kids and I are still ploughing through the Gospel of Matthew together. We hope to be on schedule by Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to read those chapters in "real time"...or at least close to it.

The house smells like bratwurst from the swedish meatballs I'm making. I guess they have some of the same spices in them. At any rate it smells really good and I"m having trouble thinking of what to make for a lenten supper as a result. It's always tough to fit meals around services when things get busy.